During our day to day lives, we often get caught up in going through the motions. Our daily commutes to work are a necessity. We tread the same mundane steps with our coats wrapped around us against the bitter cold. Trains are packed with faces buried in the Metro or alight with the glow of social media. Perhaps this is a necessity though. After all, we do not have time to stand and stare. Unless, of course, it's 9pm on a train to Birmingham from Exeter and you've been staring at a graduate application form for the last hour and a half.
The carriage had emptied by the time we reached Bristol. I had so far been busy working on an application form which was due in two days. The combination of the darkness and my music had allowed me to enter the zone of inspiration and, despite having worked that day, I was fairly awake. The arrival of the Train Manager in the carriage distracted me momentarily and I turned my music down just in time to hear the words, "If I fall asleep, will someone wake me up?". I chuckled to myself as I heard the reply, "Oh yes, don't worry, we do a thorough check of the train". The train was terminating at the next stop. Perhaps it's just me but I don't suppose it's great PR to leave passengers on trains asleep. Anyhow, I went back to thinking of something unusual and unique that I had done in the last year whilst Mumford and Sons tinkled away.
I glanced up. Very quickly. It was more of a thinking glance than a "Hey, let's chat" glance. But that was it. The train manager motioned for me to take my ear phones out.
"Are you working?"
"Yes"
"Are you studying?"
"No."
A puzzled face.
"I'm doing a job application."
"Well, you know, I should charge you extra for that. Working late and all."
The lateness of the hour meant I did not immediately see the joke in that line and I blushed as a consequence. I honestly believed that I was going to be charged extra as I had been using the electricity to charge my laptop. I was even preparing a defence speech in my mind. However, I could see he was smiling and we began a discussion about our dream jobs, books and writing. By the time he asked me if I had ten minutes to spare, I had already put aside my blushes and my initial reserve. Two minutes later I was packing up my things and heading to first class where a cup of promised tea was waiting......with cake.
It turns out, this train manager was actually a writer at heart. His stories were imprinted into the memory of his Kindle which I gratefully received. The temptation of entering into another world was just too much. The story I read was imaginative and colourful. The desolate carriage was transformed into a small, polished room in a hotel, an isolated beach under a hanging cliff face, a bustling market place. Despite this, I felt a little intrusive. After all, although very good, his musings were not published, they were a personal collection. We give a great deal away in our writing. It takes courage to allow someone to read your thoughts and feelings. He returned from his duties and we agreed to keep in touch. After all, it's not everyday someone bares their literary soul to you and, besides, I'd learnt a valuable life lesson: the importance of making connections.
Since that journey, I have received a few emails from the train manager which included his entire backlog of travel pieces. He has suggested that I could be his official proof-reader if he ever felt ready to try to get them published. So there we go, a new opportunity and a friend in a train manager and all it took was a smile.
It turns out, this train manager was actually a writer at heart. His stories were imprinted into the memory of his Kindle which I gratefully received. The temptation of entering into another world was just too much. The story I read was imaginative and colourful. The desolate carriage was transformed into a small, polished room in a hotel, an isolated beach under a hanging cliff face, a bustling market place. Despite this, I felt a little intrusive. After all, although very good, his musings were not published, they were a personal collection. We give a great deal away in our writing. It takes courage to allow someone to read your thoughts and feelings. He returned from his duties and we agreed to keep in touch. After all, it's not everyday someone bares their literary soul to you and, besides, I'd learnt a valuable life lesson: the importance of making connections.
Since that journey, I have received a few emails from the train manager which included his entire backlog of travel pieces. He has suggested that I could be his official proof-reader if he ever felt ready to try to get them published. So there we go, a new opportunity and a friend in a train manager and all it took was a smile.
